Conveyer



W. H. SMITH Nov; 14, 1939.

CONVEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet l awwzzifff Filed June 30, 1937 Nov. 14, 1939.w. H. SMITH 2 ,07

CONVEYER Filed June 30, 19s? 3 sheets-sheet 2 Fig. 2.

v A Tram/Er Nov, 14, 1939.

H. SMITH CONVEYER Filed June 30, 195? 3 Sheets-Sheet l5 ATT g/VEYPatented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE CONVEYER WilliamHerbert Smith, East Molesey, England Application June 30, 1937, SerialNo. 151,286

g In Great Britain July 21, 1936 19 Claims.

vide an electrically driven conveyer with. a switch which isautomatically thrown out by engagement of a member'with a cam placed inits path and which may subsequently be closed by a manual operation foreither forward or reverse travel of the conveyer. The member whichengages the cam may conveniently comprise a depending arm which issecured to a shaft which extends across the conveyer and on which athree pole change-' over switch is mounted. On engagement of one end ofthe arm by the cam the shaft is rocked and the switch is thrown out. Theswitch may be closed again either by returning the shaft to its originalposition, or if travel in the reverse direction is required, by rockingthe shaft further over till the appropriate contacts of the switch areclosed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyer comprising awheeled truck incorporating an electric motor and having a brake drumdirectly connected to the armature and a reduction gearing through whichthe wheels of the truck are driven.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a conveyerwhich incorporates a skip formed in two ha ves which are pivotedtogether at their upper ends and have mutually inclined bottoms so thatthe two halves tend to separate and move to a discharging position inthe manner of a grab, the two halves of the skip being so slung from theconveyer frame that as they move apart a toggle action is set up whichonposes this motion and so limits the size of the discharge opening. 7

The invention will be illustrated by describing a preferred form ofconveyer with reference to the accompanying drawings. the new orimproved features, arrangements and combinations of which form parts ofthe invention.-

In the drawings Fig. 1 represents a side elevational view and Fig. 2 across section of the conveyer. parts being cut away and parts beingomitted for clear- HESS,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of part of the conveyer showing the position ofthe electrical driving gear,

Figs. 4 and 5 represent front and side elevations respectively of themechanism which auto- 5 matically switches off the current to the motorand brakes the conveyer, and

Fig. 6 is a detail View of the braking mechanism and associated parts asseen in Fig. 1, but to an enlarged scale.

. 10 Like references denote like parts throughout the several figures ofthe drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the conveyer comprises .a..rectangularchassis frame A having mounted thereon forward and rear axles B, to the15 5 ends of which are secured wheels 0. One of the axles B is driven bya sprocket D, which is fixed thereto and is itself driven by a chain Efrom a sprocket F which is fixed to the shaft of an electric motor G.Both the axles may be driven, for

example through a-chain and sprocket drive, if

this'is desirable.

The wheels C are arranged to run on an overhead track a, and rollers 19depending from the chassis frame A engage the inside of the track toprevent lateral displacement of the conveyer.

Within the chassis frame A. and between the axles B a skip H is mounted.It is formed in twohalves which have opposite y inclined bottoms and arepivoted at their upper edges on pins J provided at each side of theskip. It is. there fore, similar in form to a grab. but it is intended Ito be charged from above. One half of the skip H is carried on twopivots K formed on plates L rigidly fixed to each side of the chassisframe A. The mounting of the skip is similar on both sides of theapparatus, and only one side is shown. The other half of the skip H ispivoted on each side at the point M to the base of a link Nwhich isitself pivoted at O to the chassis frame A.

The weight of the skip and its load tends to 4 fixed to the skip attheir upper ends, but their lower ends are each provided with a pin R.which engages in a notch formed in the frame Q and a coincident notchformed in a plate V. This plate V is rigidly attached to the frame Q,and its lower edge is formed as a cam surface S.

carry at 4 The engagement of the arm P in the notches prevents relativemovement of the arms P, P and holds the skip closed. When it is desiredto discharge the load, the frame Q is moved by hand to raise the notchesclear of the pin R. This allows the two halves of the skip to separateand the pin R rides over the cam surface S. The frame Q is suspendedeccentrically by the arms P and thus tends to fall at its right hand endas seen in Fig. l and the cam surface S bears on the pin R. The skip canbe opened either by pushing the right hand end of the frame Q up or bypulling the left hand end down.

A plate U is provided at each side of the skip to cover the jointbetween its two halves and thereby prevent lateral spillage whendischarg- To close the skip a handle T attached to one end of the skipis pulled down until the pin R snaps into the notches in the frame Q andplate V.

The slinging of the skip in the chassis is arranged so that the twohalves of the skip will not separate very far when discharging, but willnormally take up a position somewhat as shown in chain-dotted lines inFig. 1: the pivots J, O, M act as the pivots of a toggle linkage whichexerts a force in opposition to the gravitational force tending to openthe skip.

The motor G which drives the conveyer is housed at the extreme left handend of the chassis as seen in Fig. 1, the skip being mountedlongitudinally eccentrically in the chassis. The motor G is carried by asuitable framework (partly shown at W) depending from, and rigidly fixedto, the chassis frame. A brake drum X is directly attached to thearmature of the motor and is positioned outside the motor casing at theopposite end from the sprocket F, which is driven through reductiongearing. By this arrangement the brake drum is driven fast, and goodbraking is ensured.

Two brake shoes Y, Y are provided (see Fig. 6) and these are fixed tolinks Z, Z pivoted at their upper ends to a cross bar 0. The link Z,which is slightly longer than the link Z ispivoted at its base to acurved link d which extends upwardly on the inside of the plate 0. Thebase of the link Z is connected by an adjustable bolt e to the curvedportion of the link 11. Theupper end of the link d is pivotallyconnected through a short horizontal link f to one arm of a bell cranklever g which is pivoted at its angle h to the cross-bar c. The arm ofthe bell crank lever carrying the link 1 is attached at its upper end,above the link f, to a spring 11' which is fixed to a plate k secured tothe chassis frame A. This spring '1' exerts a pull on the arm of thebell crank lever and normally holds it in the position shown in Fig. 6and the brake shoes are pressed against the brake drum X through thelinkage system just described.

In order to release the brake, the arm of the bell crank lever 9 notcarrying the spring a and linkage system is pressed downwardly, againstthe tension of the spring 7', by the movement of a sector-shaped plateZ. A cam surface on the arcuate portion of the plate I engages a rollerm provided at the end of the crank lever arm. When the brake is on theroller m engages in a notch n formed in the middle of the arcuatesurface, and on rotating the plate Z in either direction the arcuatesurface presses the roller downwardly. This movement of the lever 9draws the link 1 and the attached link d to the right as shown in Fig.6; the link (1 tends to pivot about a free point between the points ofattachment of the links Z and Z and thereby allows the two brake shoesto slack off.

The apex of the plate Z is fixedly mounted on a shaft 0 which extendsacross the chassis of the conveyer and it is rotatably mounted inbearings in the side frames A. The end of the shaft 0 not carrying theplate Z has fixed thereto two levers p, 11 (see Fi i) to the ends ofwhich are connected ropes or chains passing over pulleys q, q for movingthe shaft 0 by hand in either direction.

The plate Z has fixed to it a lever T which extends upwardly and ispivoted at its upper end to an adjustable link 8 which connects it to alever t fixed to a shaft u.

The shaft 1/. forms the control shaft of a switchbox 11 which controlsthe supply of current to the motor G. The current passes to theswitchbox through rollers x which run on bare copper conductors w. Athree pole changeover switch is used, and it may be operated by hand,through the levers 72, 22 to stop, forward or reverse: it is, however,arranged to be stopped automatically at a predetermined point by theoperation of a cam on a lever connected to the control shaft Themechanism employed is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The shaft u passes rightacross the chassis and extends through hearings in the side frames A.Each end of the shaft 1/. has attached thereto a similar linkagemechanism and so only one will be described; their relative positions,however, are shown in Fig. 4 in full lines and in chain-dotted linesrespectively. A short lever 1/ has one end fixed to the shaft u and arod 2 is pivotally suspended from the other end.

Both the upper and lower ends of the rod 2 are bifurcated and the lowerend carries a roller l which hangs just clear of the upper surface ofthe track a.

A cam plate 2 is attached to the track at a point where it is desired tostop the conveyer, and when the roller l reaches the plate 2 it rides upthe cam surface thereby rotating the shaft u and moving the controlswitch to the 01f position. This rotation of the shaft u is transmittedby means of the lever system if, s, 1' (see Fig. 6) to produce arotation of the brake operating cam plate Z which presses the shoes Y, Yagainst the brake drum X. The cam plate 2 is shown bolted to the tracka; but it may be arranged to swivel out of the path of the roller whereit may be desirable for the conveyer to travel on to another station.This cam-operated mechanism is arranged at both sides of the track, oneto be operated on the forward and one on the return journeyrespectively. When the conveyer is stopped, the levers 1 at each side ofthe skip move to a horizontal position. Suppose now that the conveyersnext travel is to be in the reverse direction: the lever 10 will bemoved by hand and the link 3 shown in full lines in Fig. 4 will therebybe rotated further upwardly while the other link y will at the same timebe lowered to bring its roller in the path of cam plate placed on itsside of the track.

A guiding bracket 3 is provided for the rod 2 to prevent it swinging.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to thedetails which have been described, as they have been given by way ofexample only, but that it includes such embodiments as come within thespirit of the invention.

ment and an electric driving motor mounted on said chassis, contactmeans through which current is conveyed to said electric motor, switchmeans interposed between said contact means and said motor, said switchhaving contacts to provide forward and reverse movement of saidconveyer, a rotatable shaft extending transversely across said chassis,contact means of said switch means rigidly mounted on said shaft, twooperating means connected to said shaft one at each end, 'two stop meansone positioned at each end of the desired travel of the conveyer in therespective path of each of said operating means for moving saidoperating means to rotate said shaft and move said contact means to anoff position, and manually operable means for returning said switch to aclosed position for either forward or reverse travel at will.

2. A conveyer according to claim 1, said two stop means each comprisinga removable cam member and said two operating means each comprising anarm and a link connected thereto, 1

said link being secured to said transverse shaft, each of said cammembers being operable to lift said arm and move said link to rotatesaid shaft.

3. A conveyer according to claim 1 including brake means for saidconveyer, and brake operating means connected with said switch operatingmeans operative to apply said brake means when said switch is moved toan off position.

4. A conveyer according to claim 1 including a brake drum mounted on theshaft of said electric motor, brake shoes for said brake drum, springmeans operative to press said shoes against said drum, linkage mechanismconnecting said brake shoes to said transverse shaft normally holdingsaid shoes off said drum but operable by the said movement of said shaftwhich moves said switch to an off position to allow said spring means topress said brake shoes against said drum.

5. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly comprising a chassis,electric driving means for the conveyer mounted on said chassis, and aload-receiving compartment mounted on said chassis, said load-receivingcompartment comprising a skip formed in two parts having upper abuttingedges, a pivot on which one of said parts is mounted, said pivot beingfixed with respect to the said chassis, a second pivot on which theother of said parts is mounted, an arm in which said second-mentionedpivot is mounted, pivot means by which said arm is mounted in saidchassis, pivot means on which the upper abutting edges of said skipparts are mounted, means normally holding said skip closed, said twoparts when released separating below said upper edges, said pivot ofsaid upper edges and said two pivot means of said arm forming pivotpoints of a toggle linkage tending to oppose opening movement of saidskip.

6. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly comprising a chassis, aload-receiving compartment and an electric motor for driving theconveyer mounted on said chassis, contact means through which current isconveyed to said electric motor, switch means interposed between saidcontact means and said motor, said switch having contacts to provideforward and reverse movement of said conveyer, a rotatable shaftpositioned transverse to said chassis, contact means of said switchmeans rigidly mounted on said shaft, operating means connected to saidshaft, stop means positioned at the end of the desired travel of theconveyer in the path of the operating means to rotate said shaft andmove said contact means to an off position, and manually operable meansfor returning said switch to a closed position for either forward orreverse travel at will.

'7. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly comprising a wheeledchassis, an electric motor for driving the conveyer and a load receivingcompartment mounted on said chassis, a brake drum directly connected tothe rotatable shaft of said motor, brake shoes for said drum, reductiongearing between said motor and the driven wheels of said chassis,contact means for conveying electric current from bare conductors tosaid motor, switch means between said contact means and said motor,operating means for said switch, stop means placed in the path of saidoperating means at a predetermined position, said stop means engagingsaid operating means to throw out said switch, and mechanical linkagemeans between said operating means and said brake shoes serving to applysaid brakes when said switch is opened to stop said conveyer.

8. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly comprising a chassis, a loadreceiving compartment and an electric motor for driving the con- .veyermounted on said chassis, contact means through which current is conveyedto said electric motor, switch means interposed between said contactmeans and said motor, said switch having contacts to provide forward andreverse movement of said conveyer, a shaft on which said contacts aremounted, operating means for said shaft, brake means for said conveyer,means urging said brake into braking position, mechanical meansconnecting said brake means to said rotatable shaft and operable to holdsaid brake means in inoperative position when said switch contacts areclosed and to release them when said shaft is moved to open said switchcontacts.

9. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly comprising a chassis, a loadreceiving compartment and an electric motor for driving the conveyermounted on said chassis, contact means through which current is conveyedto said electric motor, switch means interposed between said contactmeans and said motor, said switch having contacts to provide forward andreverse movement of said conveyer, a brake drum directly connected tothe rotatable shaft of said motor, brake shoes for said brake drum,operating means for said switch, spring means operative to press saidshoes against said drum, mechanical linkage means connecting saidoperating means and said brake shoes and mechanically holding said shoesoff said drum when said switch is on but operable by said operatingmeans to allow said spring means to press against said drum when saidoperating means moves said switch to an "off" position.

10. A conveyer according to claim 9, said linkage means comprising alink having a curved portion at one end, means for connecting said brakeshoes to separated points of the curved end of said link, a bell-cranklever, the opposite end of said link from said curved end being connected to one arm of said bell-crank lever, said arm also beingconnected to said spring means, a cam connected to said operating meansfor said switch, said cam being operable on movement of said switchoperating means to move the othe arm of said bell-crank lever.

11. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly comprising a load-receivingcompartment, electric driving means for the conveyer, a switchcontrolling the said electric driving means, a rotatable shaft, contactmeans of said switch secured to said shaft, an arm, means connectingsaid arm mechanically to the said shaft, stop means positioned at adesired location in the track of said arm for moving said arm androtating said shaft to a position to throw out said switch contact meansand stop said conveyer, and manually operable means for returning saidswitch contact means to closed position to restart said conveyer.

12. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly comprising a chassis,electric driving means for the conveyer mounted on said chassis, contactmeans through which current is supplied to said driving means from bareconductors, and a load receiving compartment mounted on said chassis,said lead receiving compartment comprising a skip formed in two partshaving upper abutting edges, support means secured to said chassis forpivctally supporting said two parts of said skip, pivot means in whichthe upper abutting edges of both said parts of the skip are mountedarranged so that the skip is opened by pivotal movement of said twoparts about said supports in the manner of a grab, means normallyholding said skip closed, manually operable means for releasing saidmeans holding said skip closed, and means tending to oppose the openingmovement of said skip to limit the extent of pivotal separation of thesaid two parts of the skip.

13. An electrically driven conveyer for dealing with loads singlycomprising a chassis frame, wheels carrying said frame, a load-holdingskip chargeable from above and formed in separable sections, meanspivoting said sections in relation to said chassis frame, means normallyholding said sections closed, automatic means operative to cut off theelectricity and stop the conveyer at a set location and manuallyoperated means operable to produce separation of said skip sections to aposition for gravity discharge.

14. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly comprising a chassis,electric driving means and a load-receiving compartment held in saidchassis, said load-receiving compartment being chargeable from above andhaving discharge means at its base, manually operable means foroperating said discharge means, electric circuit interrupting meansautomatically operable at a set position and manually-operable means forclosing said circuit for subsequent movement of the conveyer.

15. An electrically driven conveyer for dealing with loads singlycomprising a load-holding skip, brake means on the conveyer, automaticmeans operative to cut off the electricity of the driving means to stopthe conveyer at a set location, mechanical linkage between saidautomatically operative means and said brake means operating to applysaid brakes when the electricity is cut off, manually operated meansoperable to move said skip to discharging position and manually operatedmeans for restoring the supply of electricity to produce subsequentmovement of the conveyer.

16. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly, comprising a loadreceiving compartment, electric driving means for the conveyer, a switchcontrolling the said electric driving means, a rotatable shaft, contactmeans of said switch being secured to said shaft, an arm, meansconnecting said arm mechanically to the said shaft, stop meanspositioned at a desired location in the track of said arm and operativeto move said arm to produce a simultaneous rotational movement of thesaid shaft to a position to throw out the switch contact means and stopthe conveyer, and manually operable means for returning said switchcontact means to closed position to restart the conveyer.

17. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly, comprising a loadreceiving compartment, electric driving means for the conveyer, a switchcontrolling the said electric driving means, a rotatable shaft, contactmeans of said switch being secured to said shaft, operating meansconnected to said shaft, movable stop means positioned at the end of thepredetermined travel of the conveyer in the path of said operatingmeans, the said stop means being operative to produce a movement of saidoperating means for simultaneous rotational movement of the said shaftand for moving said contact means to an off position, and manuallyoperable means for returning said switch to a closed position for eitherforward or reverse travel at will.

18. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly, comprising a chassisframe, wheels carrying the said frame, a load holding skip chargeablefrom above and formed in separable sections, means pivoting saidsections in relation to said chassis frame, means normally holding saidsections closed, manually operable means to produce separation of saidparts to a position for gravity discharge, and toggle means operable tooppose the separating movement of the parts to limit the discharge areaproduced.

19. A conveyer for dealing with loads singly, comprising a chassis, aload receiving compartment, an electric driving motor mounted on saidchassis, contact means through which current is conveyed to saidelectric motor, switch means interposed between said contact means andsaid motor, said switch having contacts to provide for forward andreverse movement of said conveyer, a shaft, contact means of said switchrigidly mounted on said shaft, operating means connected to said shaft,two stop means positioned one at each end of the predetermined travel ofthe conveyer in the path of said operating means for moving saidoperating means to actuate the shaft and move said contact means into anoff position, and manually operable means for returning said switch to aclosed position for either forward or reverse travel at will.

WILLIAM HERBERT SMITH.

